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The clerics will march through the troubled region of Kashmir to promote peace.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sufi clerics to conduct Aman Yatra in Kashmir.

Pointless to engage with separatists, clerics say.

Slam Pakistan for false propaganda and incitement.

The Holy Quran in one hand and the tricolour in the other - a group of prominent Sufi clerics have proposed to take out an Aman Yatra in the troubled Kashmir Valley. 21 prominent Muslim clerics met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday and proposed to talk to their brothers in the Kashmir

The Holy Quran in one hand and the tricolour in the other - a group of prominent Sufi clerics have proposed to take out an Aman Yatra in the troubled Kashmir Valley. 21 prominent Muslim clerics met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday and proposed to talk to their brothers in the Kashmir Valley.

WE SHOULD ENGAGE WITH THOSE WHO WANT PEACE IN VALLEY

"Why talk to those who say Pakistan Zindabad? We should talk to those who want peace and prosperity in the Valley. We are in touch with them. They want a way out of this Pakistan sponsored strife," Maulana Ansar Raza, chairman of the Gharib Nawaz Foundation managing Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah told India Today after meeting the Home minister.

The proposed group for the 'aman yatra' comprises clerics from Dargah Ajmer Sharif, Bareilly Sharif, Haji Ali in Mumbai and Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi among others. The group has sought clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and have also expressed a desire to meet J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference Chief Omar Abdullah and all stakeholders of peace who believe in the Indian Constitution.

The clerics, however, disagreed with the all-party delegation's initiative to meet the Hurriyat leaders. "What is the point of meeting those who say Pakistan zindabad. We should only engage with those who believe in the Indian constitution and in Kashmiriyat. It is wrong to encourage the pro-Pakistan elements in the Hurriyat," a delegate who didn't want to be named told India Today.

WON'T LET PAKISTAN DERAIL PEACE INITIATIVE, SAY CLERICS

"We are a land of Sufi saints and Kashmir is a land of Sufi culture. Some may be trying to hijack it but all of us together will not let Pakistan and their proxies derail the peace initiative in the valley," he added.

Rajnath Singh heard the clerics and spoke of the existing situation on ground. "We told him we are not scared of the guns or bombs in the Valley. We have the Holy Quran in one hand and the tricolour in the other. The Aman Yatra (peace march) will pass through prominent areas of the Valley - and not be restricted to Srinagar. We will have regular and detailed interaction with the youth and the parents, teachers, civil society. We all want peace," he added.

CRITICISE USE OF MOSQUE LOUD SPEAKERS TO FORCE PEOPLE

Clerics have also criticized the use of mosque loud speakers to compel women and children to come out and protest. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also raised the issue while speaking to members of civil society in Baramulla in the first week of August. "Mosque is a sacred place for worship. It should not be used for forcing women and children to come out on the streets and protest," added another cleric.

The clerics also hit out at Syed Ali Shah Geelani for seeking a connection with Pakistan saying Islam links Kashmir to Pakistan. "This is false propaganda by Geelani and they are using terrorists to force this propaganda through to people in Kashmir. There are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan and we all live free. There is no link with Pakistan except terror that they export. We will expose the Hurriyat and their false propaganda, not just in the valley but across the country," Maulana Ansar concluded after the meeting.